New Parent? 4 Reasons You're Not Having Sex

New Parent? 4 Reasons You're Not Having Sex

New Parent? 4 Reasons You're Not Having Sex

Getting hot and heavy soon after giving birth can seem as likely as getting eight full hours of sleep. While some new parents still find time to get busy between the sheets, what's really going on when it comes to postpartum sex?

Researchers at the University of Michigan surveyed 114 partners of new mamas, and found that a third of them had intercourse six weeks after birth. Sixty percent of partners reported receiving oral sex, while a third of birth mothers did. The study, which focused on factors both physical and psychological, suggests that the journey back into being intimate are extremely nuanced and complex for new parents. The couple doesn't simply fall back into the exact same kind of sexual relationship they had before the baby was conceived.

Doctors typically give the okay to have sex four to six weeks after giving birth. Here, common sex saboteurs, plus how to overcome them for a strong, sexy relationship.

The sex saboteur:
You're super stressed
Almost everyone who reported not having sex in the study, cited stress as the cause (followed by fatigue and time). We bet you're not surprised: You're light on sleep, heavy on to-do's, and you can hardly find the time for a quick shower, nevermind a steamy one with your partner.

Overcome it: "Stress decreases the desire for sex," says Kristen Mark, PhD, a sex researcher at the University of Kentucky. "But once you make time for it, sex ultimately reduces stress." The solution? Try these 6 Stress-Relief Tips That Really Work.